Through its environmental team, the Tepa Companies provided fabrication and installation services for a new museum at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) army base. The WSMR, established in 1941 and located in New Mexico, is one of the largest military bases in the U.S. It includes 600,000 acres and over five counties. Historically, the base’s enormous size made it the perfect location for all military weapons testing and training sessions.
After the Pearl Harbor attacks in 1941, the base became the site of a massive bombing range
where members of the War Department examined different war scenarios and conducted missile testing during World War II, specifically the atomic bomb. Post World War II, the base developed the V-2 WAC Corporal rocket, the first-sounding rocket for the U.S. and many others like the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). Beyond military support, WSMR also assisted our nation’s space activity. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted numerous satellite, flight and missile tests on location. Most notably, the base became the landing spot during the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) in 1982.
The White Sands Missile Range Museum, established in 1994, aims to preserve and showcase such important history. Tepa completed this $2.2 million project in April 2023, providing an area for the Center of Military History to display historical documentation and visuals to the nearly 100,000 visitors coming to the museum each year.
“I have learned so many new things about our weapons history – not many people know this military base is the birthplace of missile and space movement for the U.S.,” Megan Perez-Utter, Deputy Project Manager, said.
Follow the White Sands Missile Range Museum Facebook page for more information about the museum and our nation’s military and space history.
